- Safiu Kehinde
In another major raid on fake food items, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has confiscated N5 billion worth of counterfeit rice recovered across eight shops and a warehouse in Nasarawa state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on the agency’s official X handle on Friday.
As contained in the statement, NAFDAC made the discovery at the rice shops and warehouse located at Karu Local Government Areas of the state.
The facilities were alleged to be producing and distributing counterfeit rice which are repackaged in sacks of popular brand names such as Bull, Royal Stallion, and Tomato Aposo.
Following the raid which was also extended to Wuse and Garki market in Abuja, 1600 bags of counterfeit rice were recovered alongside empty rice bags bearing names of the popular brands.
The statement read in part; “In a major operation, NAFDAC has shut down eight rice shops and a warehouse in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
“The facilities were implicated in producing and distributing counterfeit rice, leading to the seizure of over 1,600 bags worth approximately ₦5 billion.
“The raid extended to Wuse and Garki markets in Abuja, following a directive from the @DGatNAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, to safeguard public health during the festive season.
“The operation uncovered counterfeit rice repackaged in branded bags such as Big Bull, Royal Stallion, and Tomato Aposo, which aimed at deceiving unsuspecting consumers.
“Empty rice bags bearing popular brand names were also discovered at the Karu facility.
“The Director in charge of the FCT, Mr. Kenneth Azikiwe, warned counterfeiters to desist from such practices or face legal consequences, adding that suspects apprehended during the raid would be prosecuted to deter others.”
Recall that NAFDAC had, in a similar raid earlier in the week, shut down 150 shops while confiscating N5 billion worth of fake beverages and food items at Eziukwu market at Aba area of Anambra state.